THE Federal Government, on Monday, October 14, summoned Libya’s Charge d’ Affaires to a meeting over the mistreatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles in that country ahead of their scheduled match with the hosts.
The team was left stranded on arrival for over 13 hours, unattended, at Al Abraq International Airport, enroute Benghazi, venue of the match.
This necessitated the players decision to boycott the fixture, fearing for their safety.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, had in an earlier reaction described the action of Libyan Football Federation as unfortunate.
Tuggar, who was spotted at the Office of the Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Monday, disclosed that he had invited the Libyan Charge de’Affiares to Nigeria regarding the matter, which he described as the most unfortunate situation.
He told State House Correspondents: “As you know, the Libyan team was here, they were supposed to land in Uyo, instead they went and landed in Port Harcourt, where they were not supposed to land.
“Now, our team has gone to Libya and somehow, the plane got diverted to a different airport. And unfortunately, at that airport, there is no aviation fuel, because what we have decided is that they need to refuel and get out, we will not be able to allow them to continue, no food.
“You know, it’s a good thing when they landed in Kano, they actually even got some water, some cartoons of water. Otherwise, even water would have been a problem.
“But suffice it to say that we have established contact with them. We’ve sent people from the Mission to go there, representing the Mission. They are in touch with the delegation.
“I am also communicating directly with the chairman and since last night, we’ve been on the phone with the Charge d’Affaires, because Libya doesn’t have an ambassador here.
“So, we’re in touch with the Charge d’Affaires and I am heading back to the ministry now, where we have summoned the Libyan Charge d’Affaires. This issue has to be resolved as quickly as possible. So, we’re on top of the situation.”
